Another Indiana Construction Death Reported

Another Indiana construction fatality has occurred near Indianapolis. Randy Gardner, a pipe line worker from Tennessee, was killed when construction equipment fell on him late last week. The accident occurred in Decatur County near St. Omer.

Mr. Gardner was working on the Rockies Express Pipeline, which will carry natural gas from Colorado to Ohio. He was an employee of Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company, based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma and had worked with the firm for two years.
Initial reports indicate that Mr. Gardner died at a local hospital after a piece of equipment fell on him. As of this writing, it is unclear if all appropriate safety precautions were in place. State officials, including the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) are investigating the tragedy.

Construction accidents occur in Indiana every day but they do not all lead to serious personal injury or death. Those terrible events that do end in tragedy change the lives of co-workers and families. Employers’ compliance with IOSHA and other safety standards is critical in assuring the safety of construction workers.